Natural history and response to treatment of HCV infection among Egyptian survivors of childhood malignancy.

Background: Children with cancer are at a high risk for hepatitis C virus infection due to immunosuppression secondry to chemotherapy and multiple transfusions of blood products. We aim to evaluate the presence of HCV infection in children with malignant diseases, risk factors, clinical course, laboratory, histopathological findings, and response to HCV treatment.

Method: We described 31 patients referred to the pediatric hepatology clinic at Cairo University pediatric hospital and presenting with postmalignant virus C infection. Data collected included that of medical history, physical examination, and periodic evaluation clinically, laboratory, and histopathologically during their follow up.

Results: The mean age at diagnosis of HCV infection was 8 ± 3.3 years, the period of follow up of the patients in the hepatology clinic ranged from 0.3 to 15 years with a mean of 2.6 ± 2.3 years. Risk factors for HCV acquisition were chemotherapy in 93.5%, blood transfusions in 83.9%, and operations in 64.5%. Out of the 31 cases, 51.6% had leukemia. At first presentation, serum ALT level was elevated in 83.9% and AST level was elevated in 80.6%. Liver biopsy was performed in 26 cases; 96.1% had mild to moderate activity, 32% had no fibrosis, and 68% had mild to moderate fibrosis. Eighteen cases received HCV treatment. The response to HCV treatment was 27.7%. Although hepatitis C infection acquired by childhood cancer survivors was presented initially with high rate of elevated liver enzymes and PCR positivity, it seems to have a relatively benign clinical course with mild to moderate chronic hepatitis.